What is the news?
Federal regulation SOR/2026-129 updated section 8 of the Old Age Security Regulations. It explicitly applies nearest-cent rounding to the Allowance for the Survivor and to top-ups for GIS, the Allowance, and the Allowance for the Survivor.
- Registered
- June 12, 2026
- Published
- July 1, 2026
- Regulation
- SOR/2026-129
Who is affected?
The wording concerns people receiving GIS and the Allowance benefits, especially amounts that include statutory top-ups. In practical terms, recipients’ payments continue to be calculated as before.
What is the impact?
The amendment fixes a drafting omission and removes uncertainty about rounding fractional cents. Under the clarified rule, an amount ending in a third decimal below five is rounded down; five or higher is rounded up to the next cent. For example, $942.346 becomes $942.35.
It does not reduce benefits, change eligibility, or create a retroactive recalculation. The government states that both its legacy system and newer Cúram system were already using the intended method.
What should you do?
No action is required because of the regulatory amendment. If your actual benefit payment changes unexpectedly, review the payment details and contact Service Canada rather than assuming the rounding amendment caused it.
Official sources
General educational information only—not financial, pension, tax, or legal advice. Confirm benefit questions with Service Canada.